Absurd to Call Israel an Apartheid State
-Irshad Manji
I respectfully challenge Jimmy Carter's recent critique of Israel as an apartheid state.
-Irshad Manji
I respectfully challenge Jimmy Carter's recent critique of Israel as an apartheid state.
Would an apartheid state have several Arab political parties, as Israel does? Would the vast majority of Arab Israeli citizens turn out to vote in national elections? Would an apartheid state extend voting rights to women and the poor in local elections? Would an apartheid state award its top literary prize to an Arab? Would an apartheid state encourage Hebrew-speaking schoolchildren to learn Arabic? Would an apartheid state be home to universities where Arabs and Jews mingle at will, or apartment blocks where they live side by side? Would an apartheid state ensure conditions for the freest Arabic press in the Middle East?
Ms. Manji is the author of The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith.
(Australian)
(Australian)
Carter UPDATE:
Emory University Professors Protest Carter Visit - Ernie Suggs
Nine distinguished Emory University professors...wrote a letter titled, "What's Jimmy Afraid Of?" - to protest the fact that Carter is scheduled to speak at the campus, but has refused to debate.
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
1 comment:
You know, you can certainly point to enforced segregation and some economic and political factors that make some sort of a case, if you want to view things Carter's way and just stick by the Merriam Webster definitions. The problem is, in this case you have a people, the Israelis, who really have tried to open their arms and lands and processes. All the segregation in force exists because of the violent acts and stated violent intent of the Palestinians. When you open your land to those who say you have no right to exist, and are suicide bombing your public areas on a frighteningly regular basis, you need to limit their access. Peaceful acts and intentions on the part of the Palestinians would end most, if not all of these issues. Maybe that is why the Palestinians cannot find it in their hearts and heads to do this. Maybe they are not ready to take responsibility for themselves. Certainly, none of their Arab brethren have wanted to.
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